This year’s Early Childhood Month is in full swing, with activities taking place across the island to spotlight the importance of nurturing young learners.
So far, there has been an opening church service, a children’s service at each school, and a celebration of Commonwealth Day, with plenty more events scheduled throughout March.
On 4 March, an opening ceremony at the Teachers’ Resource Centre marked the start of the calendar of activities, with education officials, teachers, parents and students in attendance.
The event, which featured several performances from pupils, began with a welcome address from Aliethea Richardson, president of the Early Childhood Association.
She said the theme of the month is, ‘Growing together: Nurturing curiosity and creativity in every child’ which she hopes will become a mantra for Anguilla’s teachers.
“It should be our goal to reach every child and reignite the natural need for curiosity and exploration,” she said.
Richardson also encouraged parents to be a part of their child’s school life while they are building the foundation for their future.
“At this tender age, now is the time to become your teacher’s friend, the time to be involved, the time to be interested in their progress, their successes, and even their shortcomings,” she said.
Critical skills
Literacy curriculum officer Vanessa Hobson, who was next to address the attendees, spoke fondly of her early childhood teachers who she said laid the foundation for her growth.
She told an engaging story of a teacher inspiring young children to be creative, and said her intention was to illustrate “the incredible power we hold as educators and also as parents”.
Hobson said studies show that when children are encouraged to think creatively and inquire without fear of failure, they are better equipped to handle challenges later in life.
“These skills are not only critical for academic success, but also for their emotional and social development. We see then why it is critical to provide the environment for these skills to flourish,” she said.
Permanent secretary of education Bonnie Richardson-Lake told attendees that early experiences shape a child’s cognitive, social and emotional development in “very profound ways”.
“This is why we must be reined steadfast in our commitment to providing enriching learning experiences that encourage curiosity, innovation and resilience in our youngest minds,” she said.
She said this year’s Early Childhood Month is not just a time to reflect, but a call to action.
“We must continue strengthening partnerships between educators, parents and the wider community to ensure that each child receives the best start in life,” she said.
Richardson-Lake officially declared Early Childhood Month open, after which retired preschool teachers were recognised, and teacher Shanice Hodge delivered the vote of thanks.
Watch the ceremony in full below:
The full schedule for Early Childhood Month 2025 is below:
